4th Light Dragoons – Moylan’s Horse
Moylan’s Horse provided a striking mounted escort for George Washington
At the Putnam County Heroes Battle the Redcoats event on June 6, 2026, at Veterans Memorial Park in Carmel, NY, members of the 4th Light Dragoons – Moylan’s Horse provided a striking mounted escort for George Washington (portrayed by John Koopman III). Their green uniforms created a vivid presence amid the local 250th commemoration, offering excellent opportunities to document cavalry in action during drills, formations, and escort duties.
Reenactor groups like the 4th Light Dragoons portray the unit in green coats faced with red, reflecting a documented uniform change in the summer of 1778. This shift followed their initial use of captured British scarlet coats (dyed or covered to avoid confusion with enemy cavalry). The green coats, often paired with Tarleton-style helmets, became a distinctive look for Moylan’s Horse and aligned with practical adaptations for visibility and supply realities. The green appearance at Putnam County honors this historical evolution and the unit’s role in living history.
The 4th Light Dragoons – Moylan’s Horse
Authorized by Congress on January 5, 1777, and commanded by Colonel Stephen Moylan (an Irish-American patriot and former aide to Washington), the 4th Continental Light Dragoons recruited primarily from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey. As one of four Continental light dragoon regiments, they served as versatile cavalry: scouting enemy movements, foraging for the army, skirmishing, and escorting key personnel and supplies—including Washington himself.
The regiment saw action at Brandywine and Germantown (in early scarlet uniforms), protected Valley Forge, and fought at Monmouth, Guilford Court House, and Yorktown. Their mounted mobility and multi-role capabilities made them vital to Continental operations.
Uniform Details
Early in 1777, the unit used captured British scarlet coats faced with blue, but Washington directed adjustments to prevent friendly fire or misidentification. By summer 1778, they adopted the more distinctive green coats faced with red, often with red waistcoats, buckskin breeches, and Tarleton helmets (black leather with bearskin crests or horsehair). This uniform evolution reflected wartime resourcefulness and is faithfully interpreted by today’s reenactors.
Escort Duty at Putnam County
The 4th Light Dragoons’ escort of Washington at the June 6 event highlighted their historical protective and ceremonial roles. Mounted formations and interactions with “His Excellency” provided dynamic scenes of cavalry in the Hudson Valley setting.
Sources / Further Reading
Wikipedia / National Park Service: 4th Continental Light Dragoons
Mount Vernon and Founders Online: Washington correspondence on uniforms
John U. Rees and Charles M. Lefferts uniform studies
Ron Chernow, Washington: A Life (for broader context)
Copyright: © 2026 Tom Musante tmusantephotography.com
